Nursing in Practice May/June 2020 (issue 114) | Page 26

14 ANALYSIS THE STATE OF PRIMARY CARE 2019
Assessing
views from
primary care:
before and
after Covid-19
Asking
Practice nurse
or better term
Primary Care
of 617 res
bette
ro
30%
of GPNs, including ANPs
– have not asked for
better pay or terms
and conditions in their
current role
i
sho
Empowerment of nursing associates
One section of the workforce that the virus seems to have
empowered is nursing associates. Initially suggested in 2015
as a bridge between registered nurses and healthcare
assistants, the role has been controversial. Healthcare
professionals have been concerned that nursing associates
would end up working above their expertise.
The first nursing associates joined the Nursing and
Midwifery Council in January last year and Cogora’s report
showed there is reluctance among practices to hire them.
Just 40% of practice nurses – 231 of 577 GP nurses,
including ANPs – said they would hire a nursing
associate. Some 14% said they would not and
46% did not know. Practice managers were
also unsure about the role – 55%, or 348, of
respondents answered ‘no’ or ‘don’t know’.
Nursing associates spoke to Nursing in
Practice about the report’s results and how
their role has developed during the crisis. Ian
Costello, a nursing associate who was
redeployed from a forensic medium care facility
to help care for older patients for Hertfordshire
Partnership University Foundation Trust, said nursing
associates could help with activities such as physical
observations in acute care settings. ‘Nursing associates are
perfectly placed to support healthcare assistants and those
returning to the NHS in this difficult time,’ he said.
Alicia Langdown, a nursing associate at The Adam
Practice in Dorset, said: ‘As Covid-19’s impact evolves, I felt
excited to be able to register as a nursing associate last
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40%
of practice nurses,
including ANPs – would
be willing to hire a
nursing associate